Politics & Government

Former Governor Jim Holshouser Dies At 78

Jessica Jones — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:00:00 +0000

One of North Carolina’s few Republican governors of the twentieth century, Jim Holshouser, died yesterday after suffering from a long illness.

He was known for a wide range of progressive accomplishments, from establishing statewide enrollment for kindergarteners to setting up health clinics in under-served rural areas.

The former governor was known as a centrist who worked well with both Democrats and Republicans.

Former NC Governor Holshouser Dies

Laura Candler — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:29:38 +0000

Former North Carolina Governor Jim Holshouser has died. Holshouser's family says he died this morning at a hospital in Pinehurst. A native of Boone, he was North Carolina's first Republican governor in the 20th century, serving from 1973 to 1977. Holshouser received an undergraduate degree from Davidson College and a law degree from UNC Chapel Hill.

While in office, Holshouser created a UNC Board of Governors and supported the expansion of public school kindergartens. He also established rural health clinics and added to the state parks system.

Senate Tax Reform Takes A Turn

Alex Granados and Frank Stasio — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:46:08 +0000

Rucho resigned his co-chairmanship of the finance committee in protest of Berger's plan, which passed the Senate Thursday.

Regardless of what ultimately passes, Jessica Jones, WUNC Capitol Bureau Chief, said on the State of Things that the implications could be far reaching.

Senate Passes Handgun Bill

Jessica Jones — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 10:59:08 +0000

State senators have passed a measure that would do away with handgun permits and add more places people can carry or store firearms.

Rucho Resigns From Senate Committee

Jessica Jones — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 20:49:24 +0000

The co-chair of the Senate Finance Committee has resigned from that group to protest changes to his legislative body's tax reform plan.

Senator Bob Rucho submitted his resignation letter to Senate President Phil Berger earlier this week. Rucho was the main architect of a Senate tax reform proposal that would have expanded the sales tax while lowering personal and corporate income tax rates.

But Berger put forth an alternate plan that would repeal corporate taxes without expanding the sales tax base as extensively. Rucho says he was disappointed by the move.

New Novel Tackles Corruption, Journalism And The Law

Alex Granados and Frank Stasio — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:26:13 +0000

South Carolina lawyer Jon Buchan is fond of saying that all journalists and attorneys have at least one good novel in them. He's been mulling his for years, but he's finally finished and published it. "Code of the Forest" tells the story of a scrappy newspaper, trying to survive an onslaught by a senator determined to silence it. It examines the subtle underpinnings of corruption.

Buchan says that corruption, as he portrays it in his book, is a much more subtle form of influence. One that might infect a politician before they realize it's too late.

House Lawmakers Begin Debating Budget

Jessica Jones — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:44:19 +0000

State lawmakers in the House have begun to debate their budget proposal. Republican representative Nelson Dollar told his fellow lawmakers the budget plan is a good one.

"We are pleased to have a new governor here in Raleigh. We think that the spirit of reform has come to our state capitol. We believe our budget has caught the winds of reform and is moving us forward," said Dollar.

Latest NAACP Protest Nets 84 Arrests, Nearly 400 In Six Demonstrations

Gurnal Scott — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 11:04:50 +0000

84 people were arrested at the General Assembly in another of the "Moral Monday" protests led by the state NAACP.

Church leaders led this week's demonstration and were among those taken into custody Monday night. So far, more than 380 arrests have been made. The civil rights organization and a number of left-leaning groups are speaking out against policies pushed by the Republican-controlled legislature.

Wake County Begins Move Into Brand New Justice Center

Gurnal Scott — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 10:57:26 +0000

Many Wake County employees are moving into a new downtown justice center this week.

County officials have invested three years of construction and $184 million in their new government headquarters. Office workers have begun setting up in the facility. The county's Register of Deeds will the first to open its doors Wednesday.

Lawmakers Continue To Debate Three Tax Reform Plans

Will Michaels — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 20:48:12 +0000

The General Assembly is in its last few weeks of budget discussions, with tax overhauls in mind. Three proposals are still on the table. All of them cut the corporate and individual income tax rates while expanding the sales tax to cover more services.

Alexandra Sirota of the liberal North Carolina Justice Center says that disproportionately benefits the wealthy.